A strike threat is brewing at the Federation after bosses demanded staff drop tribunal cases.

The entire brewing staff at the brewery in Dunston, Gateshead, will go on the two-day strike from December 19.

They have also voted to ban overtime working.

Around 70 workers at the plant are angry after Scottish and Newcastle told staff they will not receive a 3.2% pay rise unless tribunal claims against the firm are ditched.

The GMB union members are asking for the 3.2% pay rise as part of an annual negotiation on wages.

The union has an employment tribunal claim against the firm.

It wants compensation of 13 weeks pay for brewery staff after the S&N parent company, Scottish Courage, failed to consult with unions when it took over the Federation earlier this year.

The unions claim they were not given the statutory 90 days' notice.

Both GMB and the Amicus union have been working since last month to settle a pay deal for next year.

Amicus members voted against industrial action but the GMB members voted 97% in favour.

Mike Hopper from the GMB said: "The full brewing work force are taking action.

"If they did not think the action would have an effect they would not be taking it.

"Our members do not want to be having to take action over Christmas but they are being pushed down that road."

He added an offer to go to conciliatory body Acas before the strike vote was turned down by the brewery. He said after the vote the brewery asked to attend Acas on the condition that the GMB did not speak to the press and that no industrial action would be taken."

A spokesman for Scottish and Newcastle said a contingency plan would be put in place to make sure the strike did not affect production.

He said: "We can confirm the GMB has voted for strike action. We are very disappointed.

"We immediately offered conciliatory talks with Acas but that was rejected.

"We have a contingency plan in place. I do not see any issues for consumer supply."